1893 Middlesbrough Ironopolis (a)
1-1 (1-1)
Division Two 
Crate(1-1)
Grewar(0-1)
2,000 
A Yuletide visit to The Paradise Ground to face the "Nops" who played in red and white striped shirts.

1894 Crewe Alexandra (h)
6-0 (3-0)
Division Two 
Smith (1-0,3-0,6-0), Wallace(2-0), O'Brien(5-0) Willis(4-0)
7,000
A lightning start from the Magpies saw them go 3-0 ahead after just ten minutes.

1895 Crewe Alexandra (h)
6-0 (5-0)
Division Two 
Wardrope(1-0), Lennox(2-0), Collins(3-0), McKay(4-0,5-0), Aitken(6-0).
8,000 
Lightning struck twice for the Railwaymen at Gallowgate, with another festive roasting.

Local lad John Carr made his debut at left half in a game that kicked off at 11am.

1896 Dundee (Scotland) (h)
3-1 (2-0)
Friendly 
Wardrope(1-0), Thompson(2-0), Milne(3-0)
Smith(2-1) 
10,000
Despite a schedule that saw them in league action on December 26th and 28th, the absence of a competitive fixture meant that United arranged a Christmas Day kickabout.

Team: Watts, Stewart, Foyer, Miller, Ostler, Adam, Milne, Collins, Thompson, Aitken, Wardrope.

1897 Blackpool (a)
3-2 (3-1)
Division Two 
Wardrope(10), Stott(2-0) Campbell(3-0) 
Cox(3-1pen,3-2)
3,000
Although they saw their early lead reduced, United held on to take both points at the Athletic Grounds - later demolished to make way for the present day Stanley Park.

Some reports credit Peddie with the second Newcastle goal. 

1899 Kilmarnock (Scotland) (h)
4-1 (3-1)
Friendly 
Fraser(1-0), Rogers(2-0,3-0) Wardrope(4-1)
Findlay(3-1) 
2,500
Snowball from local side Shankhouse guested for the hosts, while the "Killie" lineup included former Magpies Reid and Carr. 

Team: Kingsley, Snowball, Gardner, Carr, Higgins, Aitken, Rogers, Stevenson, Peddie, Wardrope, Fraser.

1900 Glasgow Rangers (Scotland) (h)
4-1 (3-0)
Friendly 
Niblo(10), MacFarlane(16), Peddie(3-0,50) 
F.Speedie(60) 
5,000
Future Magpie Finlay Speedie netted for the Gers, who came to Tyneside on the back of a 0-3 home defeat by the mackems in another kickabout.

Some reports credit Laidlaw with the third.

Team: Kingsley, Burgess, Scott, Ghee, Aitken, Carr, Rodgers, Macfarlane, Peddie, Laidlaw, Niblo.

1901 Dundee (Scotland) (h)
1-1 (1-0)
Friendly 
Graham(1-0)
Lloyd(1-1)
1,000
This friendly went ahead after United had the frozen pitch swept clear of snow and sanded.

The Magpies welcomed back Bob McColl from injury, but he broke down again during  the course of this game and was sidelined again until the following February.

Team: Kingsley, Gardiner, Davidson, Ghee, Cretney, Caie, Stewart, Orr, McColl, Niblo, Graham.

1902 Hibernian (Scotland) (h)
1-0 (1-0)
Friendly 
Stenhouse(1-0)
3,000
Bob McColl saw his first half spot kick saved by Harry Rennie before the winner came when Andrew Gardner's corner was headed in by Harry Stenhouse.

Rennie attracted press attention for his willingness to play out and begin attacks - an early example of a "sweeper keeper."

Team: Kingsley, Rowe, Agnew, Al.Gardner, Aitken, Carr, Stenhouse, Veitch, Caie, McColl, An.Gardner. 

1902 Newcastle A were beaten 2-3 by Sunderland A in a Northern League fixture at Roker Park, with 5,000 fans in attendance.

0-3 down at half time, Richardson reduced the arrears before Willie Wilson shot home from inside the centre circle.

1903 Sheffield United (a)
2-2 (0-1)
Division One 
Howie(59), Appleyard(68) 
B.Wilkinson(37), Brown(88)
20,237
This was reported to be a classic game despite the treacherous pitch that had been rolled before kickoff.

The Blades played at Bramall Lane throughout the festive season, with home games on December 26th, 28th and January 2nd.

1905 Woolwich Arsenal (a)
3-4 (3-4)
Division One 
Howie(20,3-4), J.Rutherford(2-4) 
Fitchie(1,5), Ducat(1-3,1-4)
20,000
The Sporting Life scribe reported that, "It was a remarkable game and it is many years since such an exciting struggle has been played on the Arsenal enclosure

An 11.30am kick-off "preserved peace and goodwill in several thousand households, as they thus enabled husbands, fathers, brothers and sons to witness a great game without hurrying or seriously delaying their Christmas dinner which was waiting for them on their return home." (London Daily News).

1906 Blackburn Rovers (a)
0-4 (0-3)
Division One 
Whittaker(7,0-3), Latheron(30), Martin(83)
35,000
League leaders Newcastle came a cropper against lowly Rovers at Ewood Park.

1907 Woolwich Arsenal (a)
2-2 (2-1)
Division One 
Higgins(40), Appleyard(43) 
Kyle(32), Freeman(70)
25,000
Following away successes against Liverpool and the mackems, United took a point from a wind-affected game at Plumstead.

1908 Manchester United (h)
2-1 (1-1)
Division One 
Wilson(8), Shepherd(65)
Wall(25)
40,000
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle reporter was fulsome in his praise for the victorious hosts, who provided, "a plenitude of narrow escapes from well directed shots which kept the crowd always on tiptoe."

1909 Woolwich Arsenal (a)
3-0 (3-0)
Division One 
Shepherd(10,20), Rutherford(23) 
25,000
Having conceded no less than sixteen goals in their previous three away games, Newcastle recorded a memorable victory at Plumstead.

1911 Oldham Athletic (a)
4-2 (0-0)
Division One 
Low(62), Hibbert(63,68), Hay(4-2)
Broad(46), Montgomery(57)
32,000
United survived conceding an early penalty when Hugh Moffatt fired over the crossbar, but went two behind by the hour before a thrilling comeback at Boundary Park. 

1912 Sheffield United (h)
1-2 (0-1)
Division One 
Higgins(72) 
Evans(6), Leafe(46)
18,000
Trailing at half time, Newcastle went 0-2 down almost straight the restart - 'keeper Jimmy Lawrence the only home player to touch the ball as he blocked a centre that was returned past him into the net. 

1913 Bradford City (h)
0-0 (0-0)
Division One 
25,000
Despite dominating possession and making countless forays into the Bradford box, the home strikers were again found wanting. 

1914 Sunderland (h)
2-5 (0-3)
Division One 
og(Scott)(73), og(Ness)(75)
Best(8,31,49), Buchan(44), Philip(69)
40,000
The wearsiders won on Tyneside for the first time in eight games since their infamous 1-9 success in December 1908.

United's Frank Hudspeth sent his 20th minute penalty kick wide of the target; visiting goalkeeper Leslie Scott and defender Harry Ness both later notching OGs. 

1914 Meanwhile the two reserve XIs met at Roker Park in a North Eastern League game. It finished 1-1, Dixon netting for United.

1920 Tottenham Hotspur (h)
1-1 (1-1)
Division One 
Harris(26) 
Cantrell(29)
45,000
United's attempts to win for the first time in three games were hampered by a clear offside call missed for Tottenham's goal and a back problem that left Neil Harris a virtual spectator for the closing 30 minutes.

1922 Middlesbrough (h)
1-1 (1-0)
Division One 
Aitken(1-0)
Elliott(1-1)
30,000

1923 Liverpool (a)
1-0 (0-0)
Division One 
R.Clark(1-0)
25,000
Among the spectators at Anfield were the mackem squad, who had travelled to Merseyside ahead of their Boxing Day visit to Everton.

1923 Newcastle's reserve side fared rather less well on the road, losing 0-9 at South Shields.

1924 Everton (a)
1-0 (0-0)
Division One 
Keating(1-0) 
30,000
Despite nursing a cut head after a collision, Bert Keating netted the vital header. 

There was a winning debut for Alf Maitland, replacing Neil Harris at right back.

1925 Liverpool (a)
3-6 (1-2)
Division One 
Gallacher 3
Chambers 3, Forshaw, Oxley, Pratt 
35,000 
An eventful game for Joe Harris to debut in, following a transfer from Middlesbrough.

The loss of United's Billy Hampson due to injury for a period of the game would be pivotal, four of the home side's goals coming while he was off the field for treatment.

1926 Cardiff City (h)
5-0 (3-0)
Division One 
McDonald(1-0,2-0,3-0), Gallacher(47,5-0)
36,250
A first half treble from McDonald was all the more impressive as he was playing centre half, replacing Charlie Spencer, who switched to left half after being injured early on.

All three of his goals were long range strikes. 

1928 West Ham United (a)
0-1 (0-1)
Division One 
Gibbins
30,000

1929 Middlesbrough (h)
3-2 (2-1)
Division One 
Chalmers, Gallacher, Weaver 
Pease, Bruce
38,922 
Left winger George Scott made his debut, after joining from South Shields.

1931 Huddersfield Town (h)
2-1 (1-1)
Division One 
Bedford(19), McMenemy(90+4) 
Bott(10)
43,493
Future Magpie Wilf Bott's opener for Town was soon cancelled out by Harry Bedford and both sides had seemingly settled for a point until Harry McMenemy struck deep in second half added time.

The 19 year-old's feat saw his photo appear in the Sunderland Daily Echo - albeit accompanied by a caption naming him as Jimmy McMenemy (his father, a former Scotland international).

1933 Everton (h)
1-2 (1-1)
Division One 
Williams 
White, Stein
50,000
The Magpies lost their unbeaten home record for the season, but would gain instant revenge with a 7-3 success at Goodison Park just 24 hours later.

1934 Hull City (h)
6-2 (2-0)
Division Two 
Gallantree(16), Smith(40,5-?), Pearson(3-?,4-?) Wilson(6-?) 
Longden(?-?), Duncan(?-?)
26,943
The first of three scheduled meetings with the Tigers in quick succession went the way of United. There was a goalscoring debut for Joe Wilson, at inside right.

1935 A fogbound Valley Parade caused the postponement of United's visit to Bradford City - their second successive call-off following the game at Blackpool.

1936 Norwich City (h)
0-1 (0-0)
Division Two 
Clare(66)
40,000
Newcastle's third defeat in four games left them languishing back in sixth spot and losing touch with the promotion-chasing pack.

1937 Stockport County (h)
0-0 (0-0)
Division Two
29,736
Having recorded five successive home wins at the cost of just one goal, Newcastle were kept out by County's defence in the first-ever meeting of the two clubs.

1940 Middlesbrough (h)
1-3 (1-2)
Wartime
Stubbins(4)
Fenton(5,78), Stobbart(1-2) 
4,500





1942 Gateshead (h)
6-6 (?-?)
Wartime
Coyde, Short 2, Stubbins 3
scorers tbc 
15,000
An incredible fixture at Gallowgate saw 12 goals scored and another three for United chalked off by the referee.

Former Magpie goalkeeper Norman Tapken returned from Manchester United to guest, along with Southend's Norman Coyde - the latter who had featured for Gateshead during the previous season.

1943 Gateshead (h)
0-2 (0-0)
Wartime
McCormack 2
15,635

1945 Manchester City (a)
3-4 (1-3)
Wartime
Clifton 2, A.Donaldson
Constantine 2, Pearson, Dunkley
29,000

1946 West Bromwich Albion (h) 2-4 (1-3)
Division Two 
Shackleton(tbc), Stobbart(2-4) 
Walsh(6,1-4), Duggan(?-2, Elliott(?-3)
44,722

1948 Birmingham City (a) 0-2 (0-1) Division One  Trigg, Roberts 42,000

1950 Middlesbrough (a)
1-2 (1-1)
Division One 
Stokoe(22)
Spuhler(5), Walker(78)
41,318 
There were debuts for Matthew McNeil, at centre half and Tom Patterson at outside left. Bob Stokoe got his first start as an emergency forward and netted United's only goal against the league leaders at Ayresome Park.

1951 Sunderland (a)
4-1 (2-0) 
Division One 
Foulkes(27), Milburn(41), G.Robledo(48,71)
Ford(62) 
52,274

 
1952 Cardiff City (h)
3-0 (1-0)
Division One 
Mitchell (pen),
Foulkes 2 
36,143 
Yuletide debut for Tommy Cahill.

1953 Middlesbrough (a)
3-2 (2-1)
Division One 
Mitchell(25), Scoular(45), Monkhouse(54) 
Walker(3), Spuhler(60)
28,138
United gained both points at Ayresome Park but the goal Jimmy Scoular scored on the stroke of half time following a disputed free kick award provoked a storm of protest on and off the pitch.

1953 At Gallowgate meanwhile, a youth team friendly between Newcastle and mackems ended in a 4-0 victory for the Magpies.

Ahead through a Ken Hymes penalty, Brian Herbertson then completed a hat-trick.

1954 Manchester City (a)
1-3 (1-1)
Division One 
Keeble 
Hayes, Spurdle 2
26,664

1956 West Bromwich Albion (a)
0-1 (0-0)
Division One 
Barlow
13,780
A rutted and frozen pitch at the Hawthorns put the game in doubt, but a snowfall on Christmas morning left the referee of the opinion that there wasn't a great risk of injury to the players. 

1956 While the first team suffered defeat at The Hawthorns, Chesterfield Reserves visited St. James' Park in the Central League.

A brace from Jackie Milburn and one from Bobby Mitchell helped United to a 3-2 win.

1957 Nottingham Forest (h) 1-4 (1-1)
Division One 
Hughes(39) 
Wilson(42), Imlach(68,77), Baily(72)
25,214 
United's habit of alternating between wins and defeats continued in what was our most recent Christmas Day first team game.

1957 The last Central League game to be played on the 25th ended in a 1-4 defeat for Newcastle away at Manchester City.